"The man brought up among them
was about to address them for the first time. The report from other
places preceded this visit; the passage was remarkable, and
doubtless there was something in the appearance of our Lord,
especially under these circumstances, which would command unusual
attention--Schaff. His mother, brethren and sisters were
probably present."

"...the God of Luke-Acts intentionally and continually invades, initiates, and even invites any and all theological deliberation, exploration, and imagination. Such theological thinking takes time and cannot be straightforwardly encapsulated in convenient statements of theoretical intent. Rather, Jesus’ words are a call to real life, real people, real time. This is God in our present and in our reality."

"Gail O’Day argues that the perfect tense of should be translated 'is now fulfilled' instead of 'has been fulfilled' (NRSV) because the perfect tense is intended to show an action that is completed in the present moment but that has ongoing significance."

"Too often as preachers we center on what people must do, and too often we take for granted that people already understand about who Jesus is and how God is manifest in him. Yet this kind of exploration holds most potential for renewing faith."

The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry, audio
telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go
Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.

"When we look at our world through the lenses of God’s grace, it changes everything. We can no longer view others as 'competition' that we have to outdo in our piety in order to 'make it in' to heaven. Everybody 'makes it in' because God wills it. Period. The whole creation is to be drawn into the peace and love and life of God’s kingdom."

"A change in condition always
accompanies an encounter with the divine. Radical change is what Jesus
proclaims and will perform. Jesus does not merely affirm the condition
of his children. He is about the reversal of fortunes that results not
just in change in one's environmental state, but in the person itself."

"Luke necessarily turns the
focus here to individuals who need freedom and salvation because
such was the focus of many anecdotes about Jesus and this remains
valid and real for all of us, but the broader vision is not lost,
including Israel?s restoration (see Acts 1:5). Such good news,
such peace, such liberating work of the Spirit, remains the core
activity of the Christ (anointed) community."

"Hearing is an intimate thing. The words literally
come all the way inside one's body where they are then 'processed' and
understood through ones neural connections. Hearing Jesus' words,
connecting them with the fulfillment of scripture, seeing Jesus'
ministry of 'release' on behalf of the poor--all this is apprehended
intimately, right now, today."

"Jesus was anointed with the Spirit (the active
presence of God) at his baptism ultimately for the benefit of the poor,
the oppressed, the blind, the captives (vv. 14, 18, 19); so we who are
Jesus-trusters, at our baptisms are likewise imbued with that Spirit for
the sake of the poor, oppressed, and captives."

"This does not mean no action, but it does mean no
cultural imperialism. This does not mean no compassion, but it does mean
no whimsical feelings without my being there with and alongside those
who are before me (the COM in compassion means ?with?)..."

"Choose your words carefully if you
preach to the people back home. Those who knew you when remember things
that make many messages seem odd. Prophetic moralizing, for example, would
sound hypocritical coming from most folks in such circumstances."

"Also, we have begun to
wonder: When some deprive others of their liberty, who are the captives?
Is not the whole nation somehow captive to a criminal justice system
that makes people worse, not better, citizens? Is it only the slave who
is enslaved? Those who hold others captive are often themselves captured
- like Br?er Rabbit stuck to the Tar Baby."

"In the life of this One who
came, we are called to live out that spirituality on a day to day
basis as we encounter the poor, captives, the blind, and the
oppressed. If we really are in the "today" of the Lord?s
favor proclaimed by Jesus, then, indeed, "the eyes of all"
are fixed on us. Words will not be enough. And our own strength will
not be enough."